Adventures in Art History Art Adventures    

Lesson 3: Resurrection of Christ

by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (Raphael)

Directions

Study the painting for one week.

Over the week:

• Look at the painting.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Read about the artist.
• Practice reciting the names of the artist and the painting.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

In 'Resurrection of Christ,' Raphael paints the Christian figure Jesus Christ coming back to life and floating over his opened tomb. Christ points toward heaven and holds a white banner. A golden halo glows atop his head. People cower beneath him, and angels fly nearby. Women in halos cluster together in the background. A snake slithers in the bottom left corner of the painting, and a stork struts in the background. Snakes signify rebirth and resurrection because they shed their skins. Storks represent renewal and new life. The white banner with a red cross held by Christ symbolizes his victory over death.

Vocabulary

Christian: Of, relating to, or professing Christianity, the religion based on Jesus of Nazareth, or its beliefs and practices.
Jesus: A Christian prophet of the first century of our era; to Christians, Jesus Christ, the son of God. (dictionary.com)
Heaven: A place regarded in various religions as the abode of God (or the gods) and the angels, and of the good after death, often traditionally depicted as being above the sky.
Halo: A disk or circle of light shown surrounding or above the head.
Tomb: A large vault for burying the dead.
Angel: A spiritual being believed to act as an agent of God, represented in human form with wings and a long robe.
Banner: A long strip of cloth bearing a slogan or design, hung in a public place or carried in a demonstration or procession.
Resurrection: Rising from the dead.

Concepts

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, commonly known as Raphael, painted 'Resurrection of Christ.'

1. Raphael was born in 1483 in Urbino, Marche, Italy. See his picture below.

2. Find Raphael's country of birth on the map of Europe below.

3. Raphael did not have an easy life. By the time he was eleven, both of his parents had died.
4. Raphael demonstrated a talent for art from an early age. He became a famous painter and eventually worked for two Popes. Some of his paintings can be found in the Vatican Palace today. The Vatican Palace is where the Pope, leader of the Catholic Church, lives.
5. Raphael is considered one of the great master artists during the High Renaissance (1490s - 1527), along with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
6. Raphael died in 1520 in Rome, Italy, at the age of 37.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

During the week, study the painting and find the following:

• Christ
• Tomb
• Halos
• Swords
• River
• Stork
• Snake
• Banner
• Women
• Shields
• Road
• Angels
• Finger Pointing Toward Heaven

Activity 2: Narrate the Painting

• After studying the painting, narrate the scene shown in the painting aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the vocabulary words, point them out in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Act Out the Painting - Pretend to Fly Like Angels

• One day this week, cut out long, narrow (~1 inch) strips of yellow paper.
• Glue or tape the short ends together to make them long enough to wrap around your head.
• Glue or tape the long rectangles into cylinders to make Halos.
• Wear a halo and pretend to be an angel.
• Flap your wings/arms and pretend to fly up to visit the puffy white clouds in the sky.

Activity 5: Color the Painting   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 7 of 'Kindergarten Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the painting?

1 / 9

Answer 1

Jesus Christ, angels, women in Halos, and cowering soldiers.

1 / 9

Question 2

What is the setting of the painting?

2 / 9

Answer 2

Outdoors at Jesus Christ's tomb.

2 / 9

Question 3

Which animals are in the painting?

3 / 9

Answer 3

A snake and a stork.

3 / 9

Question 4

What did Jesus just emerge from?

4 / 9

Answer 4

A tomb.

4 / 9

Question 5

Why does Jesus point upwards?

5 / 9

Answer 5

He points toward heaven.

5 / 9

Question 6

What does 'resurrection' mean?

6 / 9

Answer 6

To come back alive after being dead.

6 / 9

Question 7

What does Jesus hold?

7 / 9

Answer 7

A white banner with a red cross.

7 / 9

Question 8

What are the soldiers doing?

8 / 9

Answer 8

Cowering at the sight of the resurrection.

8 / 9

Question 9

What clues do we have that the flying women in the painting are angels?

9 / 9

Answer 9

They have wings and halos.

9 / 9

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the painting? Jesus Christ, angels, women in Halos, and cowering soldiers.
2. What is the setting of the painting? Outdoors at Jesus Christ's tomb.
3. Which animals are in the painting? A snake and a stork.
4. What did Jesus just emerge from? A tomb.
5. Why does Jesus point upwards? He points toward heaven.
6. What does 'resurrection' mean? To come back alive after being dead.
7. What does Jesus hold? A white banner with a red cross.
8. What are the soldiers doing? Cowering at the sight of the resurrection.
9. What clues do we have that the flying women in the painting are angels? They have wings and halos.

References

'Raphael.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.